Lions of Kandahar: The Story of a Fight Against All Odds

Southern Afghanistan was slipping away. That was clear to then-Captain Rusty Bradley as he began his third tour of duty there in 2006. The Taliban and their allies were infiltrating everywhere, poised to reclaim Kandahar Province, their strategically vital onetime capital. To stop them, the NATO coalition launched Operation Medusa, the largest offensive in its history. The battlefield was the Panjwayi Valley, a densely packed warren of walled compounds that doubled neatly as enemy bunkers.

House to House: An Epic Memoir of War

In one of the most compelling combat narratives ever written, Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, an Army infantry platoon leader in Iraq, gives a teeth-rattling, first-hand account of 11 straight days of heavy house-to-house fighting during the climactic second battle of Fallujah. His actions in the firefight, which included killing five insurgents in hand-to-hand combat, earned Bellavia the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, and New York state's highest military honor, the Conspicuous Service Cross.

Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor

In 2009 Clinton Romesha of Red Platoon and the rest of the Black Knight Troop were preparing to shut down Command Outpost Keating, the most remote and inaccessible in a string of bases built by the US military in Nuristan and Kunar in the hope of preventing Taliban insurgents from moving freely back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Three years after Keating's construction, the army was finally ready to concede what the men on the ground had known immediately: It was simply too isolated and too dangerous to defend.

Dog Company: A True Story of American Soldiers Abandoned by Their High Command

The army does not want you to listen to this book. It does not want to advertise its detention system that coddles enemy fighters while putting American soldiers at risk. It does not want to reveal the new lawyered-up Pentagon war ethic that prosecutes US soldiers and marines while setting free spies who kill Americans. This very system ambushed Captain Roger Hill and his men.

Hammerhead Six: How Green Berets Waged an Unconventional War Against the Taliban to Win in Afghanistan's Deadly Pech Valley

In 2003, the Special Forces soldiers entered an area later called "the most dangerous place in Afghanistan". Here, where the line between civilians and armed zealots was indistinct, they illustrated the Afghan proverb "I destroy my enemy by making him my friend." Fry recounts how they were seen as welcome guests rather than invaders. Soon after their deployment ended, the Pech Valley reverted to turmoil. Their success was never replicated.

The unforgiving Afghan winter settled upon the 22 men of Marine Special Operations Team 8222, call sign Dagger 22, in the remote and hostile river valley of Bala Murghab, Afghanistan. The Taliban fighters in the region would have liked nothing more than to once again go dormant and rest until the new spring fighting season began. No chance of that - this winter would be different.

The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor

At 6:00 a.m. on the morning of October 3, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating was viciously attacked by Taliban insurgents. The 53 U.S. troops, having been stationed at the bottom of three steep mountains, were severely outmanned by nearly 400 Taliban fighters. Though the Americans ultimately prevailed, their casualties made it one of the war's deadliest battles for U.S. forces. And after more than three years in that dangerous and vulnerable valley a mere 14 miles from the Pakistan border, the U.S. abandoned and bombed the camp.

Carnivore: A Memoir by One of the Deadliest American Soldiers of All Time

Dillard Johnson was at the forefront of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But surviving the enemy was only the beginning. Johnson would use the intensity, focus, and humor that kept him alive on the battlefield to fight stage three Hodgkin's Lymphoma. A man determined not to die, Johnson made a miraculous recovery - and then returned to Iraq for a second combat tour as an Army sniper. Funny and exciting, Carnivore offers fresh insight into the mind and heart of a warrior and offers a look at the lives of troops on the ground not seen before.

Roberts Ridge: A True Story of Courage and Sacrifice on Takur Ghar Mountain, Afghanistan

For the U.S. Navy's elite team of SEALs, the mission seemed straightforward enough: to take control of a towering, 10,240-foot mountain peak called Takur Ghar, a key post in their plan to smash Taliban al Qaeda in eastern Afghanistan.

The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan

The Only Thing Worth Dying For chronicles the most important mission in the early days of the Global War on Terror, when the men on the ground knew little about the enemy - and their commanders in Washington knew even less. With unprecedented access to surviving members of ODA 574, key war planners, and Karzai himself, award-winning author Eric Blehm cuts through the noise of politicians and high-level military officials to narrate, for the first time, a story of uncommon bravery and terrible sacrifice.

The Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama Bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior

Stirringly evocative, thought provoking, and often jaw dropping, The Operator ranges across SEAL Team Operator Robert O'Neill's awe-inspiring 400-mission career that included his involvement in attempts to rescue "Lone Survivor" Marcus Luttrell and abducted-by-Somali-pirates Captain Richard Phillips and culminated in those famous three shots that dispatched the world's most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden.

The Last Punisher: A SEAL Team Three Sniper's True Account of the Battle of Ramadi

The Last Punisher is a bold, no-holds-barred first-person account of the Iraq War. With wry humor and moving testimony, Kevin Lacz tells the story of his tour in Iraq with SEAL Team Three, the warrior elite of the navy. This legendary unit, known as The Punishers, included Chris Kyle (American Sniper), Mike Monsoor, Ryan Job, and Marc Lee. These brave men were instrumental in securing the key locations in the pivotal 2006 Battle of Ramadi, told with stunning detail in this book.

Roughneck Nine-One: The Extraordinary Story of a Special Forces A-Team at War

On April 6, 2003, 26 Green Berets, including those of Sergeant First Class Frank Antenori's Special Forces A-Team (call sign Roughneck Nine One), fought a vastly superior force at a remote crossroads near the village of Debecka, Iraq. The enemy unit had battle tanks and 150 well-trained, well-equipped, and well-commanded soldiers. The Green Berets stopped the enemy advance, then fought them until only a handful of Iraqi survivors finally fled the battlefield.

Pale Horse is the remarkable never-before-told true story of an army aviation task force during combat in the Afghan War, told by the commanding officer who was there. Set in the very valleys where the attacks of 9/11 were conceived and where 10 Medals of Honor have been earned since that fateful day the war began, the narrative races from ferocious firefights and bravery in battle to the quiet moments where the courageous men and women of Task Force Pale Horse catch their breath before they take to the skies again.

No Way Out: A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan

In a remote enemy-held valley in Afghanistan, a Special Forces team planned to scale a steep mountain to surprise and capture a terrorist leader. But before they found the target, the target found them. The team was caught in a deadly ambush that threatened not only their lives but the entire mission. The elite soldiers fought huddled for hours on a small rock ledge as rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine-gun fire rained down on them.

Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War

In the fall of 2009, Taliban insurgents ambushed a patrol of Afghan soldiers and Marine advisors in a mountain village called Ganjigal. Firing from entrenched positions, the enemy was positioned to wipe out 100 men who were pinned down and were repeatedly refused artillery support. Ordered to remain behind with the vehicles, 21 year-old Marine corporal Dakota Meyer disobeyed orders and attacked to rescue his comrades.

Violence of Action is much more than the true, first-person accounts of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Global War on Terror. Within this audio are the heartfelt, firsthand accounts from and about the men who lived, fought, and died for their country, their regiment, and each other. Objective Rhino, Haditha Dam, recovering Jessica Lynch, the hunt for Zarqawi, the recovery of Extortion 17, and everything in between...

Killer Elite: Completely Revised and Updated: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team

A top-secret US Army Special Operations unit has been running covert missions all over the world, from leading death squads to the hideout of drug baron Pablo Escobar to capturing Saddam Hussein and, in one of the greatest special operations missions of all time, helping to track down al-Qa'eda leader Osama bin Laden. "The Activity," as it became known to insiders, has achieved near-mythical status, even among the world's Special Operations elite.

Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit

Delta Force—the US Army’s most elite top-secret strike force. They dominate the modern battlefield, but you won’t hear about their heroics on CNN. No headlines can reveal their top-secret missions, and no book has ever taken readers inside—until now. Here, a founding member of Delta Force takes us behind the veil of secrecy and into the action to reveal the never-before-told story of First Special Forces Operational Detachment-D (Delta Force).

The Reaper: Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers

In the best-selling tradition of American Sniper and Shooter, Irving shares the true story of his extraordinary career, including his deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, when he set another record, this time for enemy kills on a single deployment. His teammates and chain of command labeled him "The Reaper," and his actions on the battlefield became the stuff of legend, culminating in an extraordinary face-off against an enemy sniper known simply as The Chechnian.

One Million Steps: A Marine Platoon at War

Aware of U.S. plans to withdraw from the country, knowing their efforts were only a footprint in the sand, the fifty Marines of 3rd Platoon fought in Sangin, the most dangerous district in all of Afghanistan. So heavy were the casualties that the Secretary of Defense offered to pull the Marines out. Instead, they pushed forward. Each Marine in 3rd Platoon patrolled two and a half miles a day for six months - a total of One Million Stepsin search of a ghostlike enemy that struck without warning.

The Killing School: Inside the World's Deadliest Sniper Program

In this revealing new audiobook, Webb takes listeners through every aspect of this training, describing how Spec Ops snipers are taught each dimension of their art. Trainees learn to utilize every edge possible to make their shot - from studying crosswinds, barometric pressure, latitude, and even the rotation of the Earth, to becoming ballistic experts. But marksmanship is only one aspect of the training. Each SEAL's endurance, stealth, and mental and physical stamina are tested and pushed to the breaking point.

Here are thrilling, never-before-heard stories of the Army's elite aviation unit - the most daring and professional helicopter crews in the world. Special Operations pilots are notoriously reticent; they don't talk about their missions, at least not to anyone outside their small community. But now, with the publication of The Night Stalkers, Durant and Steven Hartov shed a fascinating light on these mysterious super commandos and take readers into a world they have only imagined.

13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi

13 Hours presents, for the first time ever, the true account of the events of September 11, 2012, when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A team of six American security operators fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there. Those men went beyond the call of duty, performing extraordinary acts of courage and heroism, to avert tragedy on a much larger scale.

Jimmy & Kellie says:"Well written factual accounting of a horrific day and night "

Publisher's Summary

In combat, men measure up. Or don't. There are no second chances.

In this vivid account of the U.S. Army's legendary 10th Mountain Division's heroic stand in the mountains of Afghanistan, Captain Sean Parnell shares an action-packed and highly emotional true story of triumph, tragedy, and the extraordinary bonds forged in battle.

At 24 years of age, U.S. Army Ranger Sean Parnell was named commander of a forty-man elite infantry platoon - a unit that came to be known as the Outlaws - and was tasked with rooting out Pakistan-based insurgents from a mountain valley along Afghanistan's eastern frontier. Parnell and his men assumed they would be facing a ragtag bunch of civilians, but in May 2006 what started out as a routine patrol through the lower mountains of the Hindu Kush became a brutal ambush. Barely surviving the attack, Parnell's men now realized that they faced the most professional and seasoned force of light infantry the U.S. Army had encountered since the end of World War II.

What followed was 16 months of close combat, over the course of which the platoon became Parnell's family: from Staff Sergeant Greg Greeson, the wise, chain-smoking veteran who never lost his cool; to Specialist Robert Pinholt, a buttoned-down conservative with the heart of a warrior and the mind of an economist; to Staff Sergeant Phil Baldwin, the platoon's voice of calm and reason, a man who sacrificed everything following the events of 9/11 - career, home, financial stability - to serve his country. But the cost of battle was high for these men: Over 80 percent were wounded in action, putting their casualty rate among the highest since Gettysburg, and not all of them made it home.

A searing and unforgettable story of friendship in battle, Outlaw Platoon brings to life the intensity and raw emotion of those 16 months, showing how the fight reshaped the lives of Parnell and his men and how the love and faith they found in one another ultimately kept them alive.

This audiobook is enhanced with a downloadable PDF containing photographs from the hardcover edition.

I want to start off by saying that I have several hundred audio books and have enjoyed most and loved some. I always make sure to rate books that I listen to using the star system, however I have never sat down and composed a full review. This book moved me in ways that I find hard to express. There were times in this book that I was incredibly angry, times when I was happy for the guys of Outlaw Platoon, and times that caused me to tear up. War brings out the best and worst of humanity, it shows us what kind of people that we share the planet with. This book was by far the best audio book that I have ever listened to. I have to mention that there are some parts of the book that I found to be very disturbing, although the very nature of war has a way of being very disturbing at times. The lengths that the enemy will go to to inflict pain into coalition forces is savage. The camaraderie and brotherhood of Outlaw Platoon is absolutely amazing. I do not have the time to review books like I should, but this book moved me in so many ways that I though that it was important to do so. This may sound strange to some but this book made me wonder why I did not enlist to serve our country, I am still young enough to do so and it is always in the back of my mind. Again I cannot stress enough that everyone should listen or read this book, this book really deserves a sixth star rather than just five. I hope this review is helpful to those considering this book. Brad Thor gives this book a great review over on Amazon.com and is worth reading. Also be sure to download the companion to this book, it includes a map that makes it easier to understand the area that Outlaw Platoon patrolled.

Yes. Great narrative arch, character development. Lt. Parnell starts out gung ho but insecure, develops into mature veteran. The same happens with most of the platoon. They are excited like kids winning a football game after their first battle, but as the months drag and the casualties mount they became seasoned professionals. There is a lot of suffering and loss but they keep in the fight. These men are in a direct line from those who fought with Washington, in the Civil War, and who won WWII, and the men who fought the thankless Viet Nam War. It's inspiring and poignant.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlaw Platoon?

When the Army finally gets serious and wipes out about 30 of the enemy in a ground attack supported by AC-130's, Apaches, and a B1 bomber.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Very good at depicting Lt. Parnell going from a brand new lieutenant to a tired but dedicated veteran, and voices of the other men in the platoon.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

How hardened and professional the enemy are, and the duplicity of the Pakistanis.

Any additional comments?

For anyone who enjoys reading about small unit combat and the bravery of American soldiers and Marines, this is a great book.

You may be familiar with Platoon Leader by James R. McDonough, the story of an Army Infantry Officer forward deployed in Vietnam. Outlaw Platoon is much the same book, set in the eastern mountains of Afghanistan in 2006. Mr. Parnell's service in the army as leader of an infantry platoon in the 10th Mountain Division is portrayed brilliantly by Ray Porter.

The story covers his initial deployment and assignment as platoon leader and the 16 months that followed, in which his unit saw combat against an enemy that is more cunning and dangerous than they are given credit for. Through several firefights the grit, pain, and loss of combat are described in forceful detail by Mr. Porter's professional vocal talents and Mr. Parnell's skilled writing.

This is highly recommended listening for anyone interested in the difficulties of leading men under fire, the torture of modern combat, or the philadelphos-style love only found in cohesive, well-led combat units. I expect this will be required reading in more than a few West Point classrooms in the near future, if it isn't already.

I don't know what to say other than this is just an awesome book. The story was so gripping, and by the end I felt like I was part of the platoon as I got to know them all so well.

I have read or listened to so many books over the years that relate to warfare and those who were involved, and having served my own country for 8 years, it will always be a topic of choice. I have never seen a book that just sucked me in so much. The writing style and characterisation was fantastic. To hear Sean's thought patterns during combat, and showing how much your mind can wander from the action to thoughts of home in a matter of a seconds was enthralling.

Where does Outlaw Platoon rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

I'm not a big fan of war stories however this book was gripping and was so well written, Ray Porter really brought the book to life with his narration & portrayal of each character in the book, Ray Porter is an excellent narrator separating each character without being overly dramatic, he did a perfect job! Listening to audio books (which I do almost continuously) if you have a great book with a bad narrator it ruins the whole thing, I've left many untouched because the narration was so terrible, it's also the same with a great narrator and terrible writing, but these came together perfectly, I'd highly recommend this book and Ray Porter to anyone!

Sean Parnell served in Afghanistan and this is his true account of what occurred while he served as the commander of a platoon of 40 elite infantry men. Sean and his platoon formed a family together. That was the only way he ever considered those he commanded. The men named themselves, The Outlaws and they were known by the army as the legendary 10th Mountain Brigade. They all grew to love one another and worked together as a unit when in combat with the opposing side as well as when they were at their base of command. Sean and his platoon watched out for one another at all times. On the very high, as well as low valley's that created the dangerous terrain that makes up the landscape of Afghanistan, the men were a team of brother's. There was a difference about the way the Afghanistan soldier's conducted themselves during the many conflicts that Sean and his platoon had to battle and not be defeated. It was realized quickly, that the Afghan soldier's that they were fighting against had been well trained in how to fight their opponent. Sean and his team of NCO's had to draw up specific plans of how they would have to fight a more aggressive and learned group of Afghan's than what they had expected. Many of their conflicts depended on calling in for extra support. A Delta Force returned from a battle against the Afghan army and they had lost. Their moral was so devastatingly low that they affected all of the other platoon's deeply. It was at this time that Sean and his men vowed to never retreat from battle. During one very intense battle, Sean and his platoon considered the need to retreat. However, all of their Humvee's had been too damaged and there was no escape. Until extra support arrived, Sean had to be their leader and devise an attack that would hopefully save his family. Baldwin had been seriously wounded and his fellow soldier, the medic, threw his body over Baldwin's to save him from death. The medic sustained a serious injury to his cheek when he was hit. Sean pulled Baldwin away from the fighting to safety with Baldwin saying, "I can't feel my legs." The medic gathered himself together, retrieved a weapon and went back to fight and to stop and attend to the wounded, when necessary. This team, group, platoon, family of soldier's would not quit while there was one man standing. They stood together and they would fight together until the bitter end, if necessary.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Sergeant Greg Greeson. He had been in the army for 20 years. When in battle, he conducted himself with such calmness that the other men were amazed. His calmness was felt by his comrades in arms and would bring them back down slowly but surely. He would always be seen with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth and a near beer grasped in his left hand. Greeson's voice was deep and gravely from his three packs a day of smokes. He told Sean, when he retired from the army that he would "work with guns and be an alcoholic." He was one man who knew where he belonged, in a foreign country, in the army and fighting for his country.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ray Porter was an excellent narrator. Reading the book would never have brought justice to such a great book. His narration was spot on for all of the character's. This proved amazing to me because there were many character's in the book and I could recognize who was speaking. I will look for his name in the future and of course, add him to my list of narrator's who are worth listening to.

If you could give Outlaw Platoon a new subtitle, what would it be?

Captain, U.S. Army Ranger, Commander Sean Parnell and his Platoon of Extraordinary Men

Any additional comments?

I'd advise anyone who is interested in this genre of books to not hesitate to purchase this one. You will not be disappointed. The book was emotional, thought provoking and was written by a man who loved his men and wanted the world to know them.

This is an outstanding work right up there with Thunder Run. The writers have a talent for bringing you right into the action and keeping things interesting. All said this is one of the finest works I have ever read.

This is the first Army genre Audiobook I've listened in a while and what a listen it was. The narrator done this book justice and kept the flow of the book perfectly running without me feeling bored as it was so action packed.

I feel so sorry for some if not all the character with what they went through the one part that really got to me was the male bitch ( you'll understand when you get to the part ) I was angry and devastated.

These guys as well as other serving members of the armed forces have done their country proud and should hold their heads up high. Hopefully all the people involved got help once their tour was over and weren't screwed over like most service members when they return with injuries or PTSD.

I'd highly recommend this Audiobook and I'll definitely listen to this one more than once.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Grizzly

8/20/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Excellent"

My Father was former special forces and never spoke of his time in the service.I appreciate so much hearing the stories of devotion to cause and brotherhood and thank the author for for sharing his story

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Bedrock9600

4/21/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Loved it!"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Brutal reality of a bloody war reflected in this book.

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

Good voice takes you directly to theatre

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

mark aggrey

2/18/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Heart Felt"

Its obvious from start to finish that this was written from the heart. Written by one who has lived the nightmare that is combat, where individuals become a cohesive body, forged together under terrible and often harrowing times. He has shown us the feelings of loss and disgust felt by these men under very harrowing times and that despite all this have retained their humanity.

This is a no nonsense account of combat on terrorism at the sharp end in Afghanistan.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Kindle Customer

Oxford, England.

2/29/16

Overall

Performance

Story

""infentary rock" (go the skull heads)"

infentary rock, these guys are all amazing. wot they did an saw was horrific. yet they stuck with it, even after fighting for days to get back to the FOB to resupply eat an rest but instead where sent straight back out, they did this not happy but they did it. The young lieutenant an the sergeants leading them where true professionals an all lead from the front an followed closely by every soldier they where a band of brothers. Truly. What an amazing story its such a shame they lost people as the characters are so strong you felt you knew them all so well..... "a brook that must be read" it was an honour to read, all I have is such respect for these guys.......

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Craig Fisher

UK

6/6/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great narration and story telling"

Always a concern starting a new book, having just listened to a great story(like carnivore) this was well written and narrated, more an experience than a story

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Mike Coots

1/17/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Gripping"

Hard to say enjoyable with such a subject but no the less it gripped me from the start. There were a couple of occasions when i felt scenes from Saving Private Ryan were being described but that didnt detract from the book. Narrator was excellent so will be looking out for him in future.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

mr

London, United Kingdom

2/4/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Gritty,Gory and good"

Any additional comments?

Really good book. Brings home the sheer inhumanity of the Taliban. How these men survived this experience physically and mentally is beyond me.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Andy

Uxbridge, United Kingdom

4/13/13

Overall

"A typical day in Afghanistan."

A typical account of US military action in Afghanistan. The book is easy listening and is one that I would recommend to anyone who wishes to understand the operating environment faced by thousand of coalition forces in Afghanistan. Frustration, joy, desperation, elation...they are all there!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

taluth

birmingham, United Kingdom

4/13/13

Overall

"A GREAT BOOK COULD READ OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN"

A fantastic book in the series,i have read all previous books and i think this is another great read the auther has really bought together modern day terrorist issues into the book gripping at times and great characters and a fantastic narator reading the book definatly a 10 out of 10 book and would highly reccomend it cant wait for the the next read.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

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